insideKENT Magazine Issue 23 - February 2014 | Page 133
You see, when you drive a MINI, it's not just
about a purpose. It is also about an experience.
They have that extra special characteristic that
every real driver craves and searches for. They
are meant to be driven for pleasure. If you want
to merely get from A to B, get a Japanese car.
The reason I think I am so enamoured with MINI
is because their entire marketing strategy and
philosophy seems to be based on the saying:
“It's not the destination that counts, it's the
journey.” – and one I happily subscribe to.
But not everyone it seems, shares my wild
optimism and joy. Whenever I post a photo or a
remark about how excited I am to be reviewing
a MINI on Facebook, I am met with the same
old-school, nostalgia-ridden cynicism. I secretly
suspect that these very same people are often
to be found Tweeting on their Nokia phones that
Tom Baker was brilliant as Doctor Who, and that
Matt Smith was rubbish. And that the idea of
renaming Opal Fruits to ‘Starburst’ was a bad
one. Okay, on reflection they are right about that
last example. Anyway, back to the MINI Paceman!
With this seventh regeneration of the MINI body,
I got a brand new line of attack from the ‘Classic’
fans; apparently, it's too big to be a MINI. Gone
are the days of the tiny car for all people – this
is a ‘giant’ four by four! How could it possibly
wear the MINI badge? ‘Surely MINI have got this
one wrong!’ they cry.
Adolf in the face, and do some good against the
nasty wicked forces of Hydra.
Well my friends, you're plain wrong. And since
I'm a Marvel geek, as well as a MINI geek, I shall
attempt to marry the two and explain why, using
none other than the mighty Captain America to
do so...
And that is precisely how I see the MINI Paceman
(except without the stars and stripes. Replace
with the Union Jack, perhaps on the roof – I've
seen a few MINIs with that).
Captain America, one of the most inspirational,
clean-cut, decent and uncluttered of all the Marvel
heroes, started life as Steve Rogers. Steve Rogers
was a wonderful little chap, who in every way
epitomised the heroism, character and downright
decency of the average American Joe (or ‘soldier’
to us British Johnnies...). Apart from one teeny
tiny detail: he was, not to put too finer point on
it, a total wimp! Unfortunately Rogers failed every
attempt to get enlisted and go and fight overseas,
because his health and stature, were to say the
least, somewhat pathetic.
That is until a kindly scientist, seeing the good
within his fragile, condition-ridden exterior,
managed to recruit him for the top secret Super
Soldier project. Pumped full of chemicals and
blasted with radiation and stuff by Iron Man's
dad, he became the red, white and blue musclebound legend that is Captain America. Same
heart, same good guy, just a bigger, stronger
body. Which meant he could finally live up to the
hopes and dreams of the man inside, punch
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In my thoroughly enjoyable experience, this car
proves to have the very same spirit of fun and
adventure that the original Mini and the modern
MINI have shown us – just more size, power and
strength.
The Paceman takes the concepts introduced to
us a while ago by the most excellent MINI
Countryman, and runs wilder and faster with
them. Donning a lower sleeker look than the
Countryman, with the roof tapered and the wheel
arches sculpted, giving an instantly more speedy
inference, the Paceman exudes that classic MINI
trait of looking fast before you've even driven it,
and is indeed a very attractive car to behold from
all angles.
Inside the Paceman, you are instantly aware of
a high-quality, familiar yet updated cockpit
sporting all the la